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Stater Bros. Markets earns about $250,000 a year for reducing non-essential electricity use during peak demand periods, reports Supermarket News.

Stater Bros. started earning the payments after enrolling in a demand response system from EnerNOC in 2008.

The California supermarket chain, which has 148 stores, considers its participation in the demand response program to be an element of its sustainability commitment, said Scott Limbacher, Vice President of Construction & Maintenance for the chain.

The store achieved its electricity cuts by making minor adjustments to store lighting, air conditioning and other power draws during demand response events, which are called for by regional electricity grid operators, according to a press release.

Such events can include the threat of brownouts, or just general high demand for electricity.

Stater Bros. has put up in-store signage to inform shoppers about any changes they might see during the demand response events, and explaining the benefits of Stater Bros.’ actions.

“Grocery stores, malls, and other heavy electricity users should definitely include demand response as part of their business practice,” Limbacher said.

Analysis at SmartGridNews suggests that, in the future, heavy users of electricity will ask for higher payments, since EnerNOC is simply a mediary between the utility and the end-user of electricity.